www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Priorities in U.S.-Ukraine trade relations – page 6. • Volodymyr Viatrovych speaks on SBU archives – page 9. • A Carpathian Christmas at The Ukrainian Museum – page 15. THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXIX No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine NEWS ANALYSIS Moscow Patriarchate in campaign Ukrainian officials are helping Moscow to seize control of religious sites by Zenon Zawada the restored St. Sophia Cathedral, both Kyiv Press Bureau among Ukraine’s oldest churches built destroy Kyiv Patriarchate, Filaret warns during the peak of the Kyivan Rus’ state KYIV – Just in time for Christmas, the under the patronage of Prince Volodymyr by Paul Goble To date, the combined Moscow Church Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow the Great. and Ukrainian government effort has “been Patriarchate (UOC-MP) has accelerated an St. Sophia Cathedral is a designated Filaret, the Ukrainian Orthodox patriarch able to find in the Kyiv Patriarchate only a aggressive crusade to take control of the national memorial and a UNESCO World of Kyiv and All Rus’-Ukraine, said on few traitors” because most of its parishio- holiest Christian sites in Ukraine, as well Heritage Site not controlled by any December 30, 2010, that Moscow has put in ners and priesthood remain loyal to the idea as valuable churches it doesn’t yet own Christian confession. The site of the place a plan to split and destroy the Kyiv of an autocephalous Ukrainian Church and Patriarchate and that it has assigned “the throughout the country. Desiatynna Church, located off do not want to be subordinate to a Church in Andriyivskyi Uzviz (Andrew’s Descent), main role in this plan to the organs of state another country. Within its crosshairs in Kyiv, the power in Ukraine” rather than in the past to nation’s capital, is the site of the ruined has no owner, but the Moscow the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow (Continued on page 12) Desiatynna Church (Church of Tithes) and Patriarchate has illegally built a chapel Patriarchate. there. Expressing his regret for talking about “The Moscow Patriarchate’s claims to unpleasant realities on the eve of holidays, the Desiatynna Church appear quite Patriarch Filaret said in his declaration that Kyiv rings in the New Year strange considering it was built 150 years “the rapid development of events and the before the first mention of Moscow as a increase in pressure on the Kyiv Patriarchate settlement,” said Ukrainian Orthodox had forced him to take this step in order to Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) mobilize Ukrainians against its realization” Bishop Yevstratyi Zoria. “We believe if (www.cerkva.info/ru/news/patriarkh/1143- the church is renewed, it’s supposed to zajava-patr.html). belong to the Ukrainian Church.” Patriarch Filaret said that the plan to The emergence of a pro-Russian gov- destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – ernment under the administration of Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) had been “cre- President Viktor Yanukovych has given ated in Moscow and proposed by Moscow the UOC-MP unprecedented government Patriarch Kirill and his subordinates.” But support in a renewed expansionist drive to according to the Ukrainian Church leader, control Ukraine’s most sacred sites and “the main role” in its implementation has most valuable church structures. been assigned to the Ukrainian government The UOC-MP, which is controlled by of President Viktor Yanukovich rather than the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox to hierarchs subordinate to Moscow. Church, is Ukraine’s largest Church, with Last spring, Patriarch Filaret noted, the an estimated 11,700 parishes, according to Moscow Patriarchate as part of its prepara- the Religious Information Service of tion for Patriarch Kirill’s visit to Ukraine Ukraine. It gained its prominence during the Soviet era, during which all other dispatched agents to various oblasts of Christian Churches were liquidated, and Ukraine to seek allies within the hierarchy their clergy persecuted and murdered. of the UOC-KP. “But this plan failed,” the The Soviet government allowed limited Kyiv patriarch said, and consequently, activity for Moscow Patriarchate churches, Moscow decided to try another approach. which were infiltrated and controlled by Then, beginning this summer, he contin- the KGB. ued, reports came in to Kyiv that priests The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) loyal to him had been summoned by gov- and UOC-MP performed no known lustra- ernment bureaucrats who questioned them tion of KGB agents after the Soviet as to why they were loyal to Patriarch Union’s collapse, and some observers, Filaret rather than to Patriarch Kirill. And as such as Kyiv political expert Dr. Oleh of now, Patriarch Filaret said, “in some Soskin, suspect they remain implanted in eparchies, up to 70 percent of the priests” its leadership under the Russian Federal had been subjected to such “pressure.” Security Service (FSB). In a number of these cases – and he pro- Most of Ukraine’s monasteries are vides details on several across Ukraine – already under UOC-MP ownership, Patriarch Filaret said, the local officials were including key sacred sites such as the supported “from offices in the capital,” a Kyivan Caves Monastery (Pecherska reference to the Yanukovych regime. And Lavra) and the Pochayiv Monastery in the “in all of these cases…the representatives of Ternopil Oblast. the Ukrainian authorities…acted in the interests of the Moscow Patriarchate” rather Kyivan Caves Monastery than in defense of religious freedom. Soon after the emergence of the pro- That will lead to trouble, Patriarch Filaret Russian government, the UOC-MP said, although “at present” no one can say revealed plans to evict dozens of museums exactly where the next clashes between Andrey Skakodub/UNIAN KYIV – Over 12,000 people participated in New Year’s Eve celebrations on and a legendary art studio from the territo- Ukrainian Orthodox and those who want to ry of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosty) in the Ukrainian capital. Above, be subordinate to Moscow will break out. Historical-Cultural Reserve (Caves a reveler with a traditional eight-pointed Christmas star against the backdrop of “But if the realization of the Moscow plan Monatery), also a UNESCO World doesn’t stop, conflicts will arise in the the city center’s buildings decked out in colorful holiday lights. Ukraine celebrates future.” Christmas according to the Julian calendar on January 7. (Continued on page 4) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2011 No. 2 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS More join list of former officials Yanukovych gives New Year’s speech said in a statement. Patriarch Filaret also urged the authorities and President Viktor KYIV – President Viktor Yanukovych of Yanukovych “to start a real and fruitful dia- in trouble with law in Ukraine Ukraine, wishing Ukrainians a happy New logue, otherwise Ukraine may return to the by Maryana Drach launched cases against 18 current and former Year, expressed confidence that 2011 would inter-church struggle of the early 1990s.” He RFE/RL high-level officials accused of causing dam- be a period of laying the foundations for added, “I hope that in 2011 there will be ages to state coffers of 17 billion hrv (around prosperity for every family and every per- changes for the better.” (Interfax-Ukraine) Yurii Lutsenko went out on December 26, $2.1 billion U.S.) and 380 million euros son. He said the outgoing year was “diffi- 2010, to walk his dog near his apartment in ($500 million U.S.). cult,” but the authorities “have managed to Ukraine sends uranium to Russia Kyiv. Mr. Pshonka said each public servant was achieve the main thing – to reverse the situ- Instead, the former Ukrainian internal ation, overcome hopelessness.” Now we KYIV – About 110 pounds of highly equal before the law and, addressing the cur- enriched uranium were sent on December affairs minister found himself bundled into a rent government, noted: “If you are going to have to build a “solid foundation of all those car by officers of the Security Service of changes and transformations that we 30, 2010, from Kharkiv, Kyiv and treat budget funds as easily as your predeces- Sevastopol to Moscow. Nuclear materials Ukraine (SBU) and taken to jail. He faces sors – you will be questioned by the same planned together, that we expected and charges of abuse of office and embezzlement sought to achieve for our common victory,” were removed from the Sevastopol National investigators in the same offices and will sit University of Nuclear Energy and Industry, of state funds and was ordered held for two in the same detention centers as officials of he noted. The president stressed that 2011 months. will be an important step towards prosperity, Kharkiv Physical-Technical Institute and the ex-government. … Do not touch the Kyiv Institute for Nuclear Research. The In comments posted on his party’s web- money of the state!” “For our honest, hard-working people site on December 26, 2010, Mr. Lutsenko deserve a decent life. For our children Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry noted called his detention further proof of “the pol- Opposition cries foul deserve a happy childhood and a happy that Ukraine was gradually fulfilling its icy of scaring Ukrainian society and political April 2010 commitment to get rid of stock- But critics say the investigations are polit- future. For our parents – older friends who terror against opposition.” were building independence, creating the piles of highly enriched uranium within two Mr. Lutsenko is the latest in a growing list ically motivated, and add that the timing of years. A memorandum on the uranium’s the crackdown has been chosen for maxi- wealth of our country, are entitled to spend of high-level members of the previous gov- the autumn and the winter of their lives in removal was signed by Ukrainian President ernment of prime minister-turned-opposition mum impact.